Vending-machine.



L. A. VANDIVER.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED $22126, 1910.

1,012,940, Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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I L. A..VANDIVER.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 811F126, 1910.

1,012,940. I Patented Dec.26,1911.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

jaw 1 Attorneys L. A. VANDIVER. I VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.26,1910.

1,012,940, Patented Dec.26, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

r Attorneys LESLIE VANDIVER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

Application filed September 26, 1910. Serial No. 583,869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LESLIE A. VANDIVER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Vending-Machine, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to cigar vending machines and is moreparticularly an improvement upon the structure disclosed in Patent No.942,527, dated December 7, 1909.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a vendingmachine having a case in which boxes containing the cigars to be vendedare placed substantially in a circle about a central operating devicecarrying a picking-up needle which may be shifted to engage a cigar inany one of the said boxes.

Another object is to provide a combined picking-up and delivery deviceadapted for use in removing cigars from either of two groups within thecase, the selection of the group being under the control of mechanismadapted to be released by the insertion of a coin of the properdenomination into the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a vending machine which can be restockedwhenever desired by a person having access to the interior of thecasing, there being, however, a money box or receptacle within thecasing and which is provided with a separate look so that the personauthorized to restock the casing need not, necessarily, have access tothe money receptacle.

Another object is to provide the needle of the picking-up and deliveringmechanism, with a stripping device having means whereby it will bereturned to its initial position and automatically locked during thestripping of a cigar from the needle after being brought to positionabove the discharge tray or chute.

Another object is to provide a novel form of box holder for use in thecasing, this holder being so located and constructed that the box can bereadily inspected without the necessity of opening the casing, todetermine whether or not the same bears the proper stamp.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists incertain novel details of construction and combination of partshereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of invention has beenshown.

In said drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of the vending machine. Fig. 2is a front elevation thereof, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a viewpartly in elevation and partly in section of the combined selecting anddelivering mechanism. Fig. 4

is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the needlestripper and its lock. Fig. 5 is a section on the line AB Fig. 4. Fig. 6is an enlarged section on line CD Fig. 3, the locking springs beingshown by dotted lines, in position to hold the selecting and deliveringmechanism against rotation to its selecting position. Fig. 7 is a rearelevation of the look portion of said mechanism. Fig. 8 is a sideelevation of the part shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevationof the lower portion of the coin receiver. Fig. 10 is a section on theline E-F Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a section on the line GH Fig. 3, saidsection being on an enlarged scale and being taken in the direction ofthe arrow. Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line G-H Fig. 3 lookingtoward the bottom of the casing. Fig. 13 is an enlarged central verticalsection through the delivering chute or tray and adjacent parts of thecasing. Fig. 14 is an enlarged vertical section through the tubularspindle and its bearing cap and showing the lock for holding the plungeragainst downward movement. Fig. 15 is a horizontal section through theparts shown in Fig. 14, the looking dog being shown in plan.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates apedestal on which is supported the base 2 of a casing which ispreferably hexagonal, as shown particularly in Fig. 1, the various wallsof this casing, with the exception of the front wall, being formed oftransparent panels 3 seated in frames 4 of metal or the like. The top ofthe casing is made up of a frame of the same contour and proportion asthe base 1, this frame being indicated at 5 and being provided with acentral cross strip 6. Transparent panels 7 are interposed between theframe and the cross strip and it will be apparent that by providingthese transparent portions in the walls and-top of the casin thecontents of said casing can be readil viewed and inspected. The frontwall of the casing is preferably entirely of metal and has a door 8hingedly connected thereto and adapted to'be locked in closed position.This door has an outlet opening 9 back of which is arranged a. deliverychute 10 inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the opening, and forming,at its lower end, a trough 11 located entirely below said opening 9. Aflap 12 is hung from the door and back of the opening 9 and has arearwardly projecting extension 13 at its upper edge which constitutes aweight for holding the flap 12 normally pressed against the door so asto close the opening 9. This extension 13 extends partly over the chuteand has an upstanding flange 14 provided with rounded ends 15. Thisflange constitutes a guide for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Theflap 12 is adapted to swing inwardly against the inclined portion of thechute 10 but, when thus located, completely exposes the trough 11 andthe article contained therein. Instead of having the flap 12 swingagainst the door 8 when said flap is in closed position, a stop screw 16or the like may be extended through one wall of the chute so as to limitthe downward movement of the extension 13 and, therefore,correspondingly limit the movement of the flap 12 toward the openin 9.

A tubular spindle 17 is mounted in the center of the casing and isprovided, at its lower end, with a stud 18 bearing within the center ofthe base 2. The upper end of this spindle extends through the crossstrip 6 and bears within a cap 19 secured on said strip at the centerthereof. A longitudinal slot 20 is formed in the upper portion of thespindle and a stop collar 21 is arranged on said spindle. Another collar22 is arranged on the lower portion of the spindle and has a cam 23engaging a roller 24 which is mounted on a crank arm 25 extending fromthe mechanism of a counter or register 26 secured on the base 2. Thiscam is so shaped and located that the crank arm 25 will be shiftedthereby each time the spindle 17 is moved out of its normal position.

A finger 27 extends radially from the col lar 22 and can be placed inany one of a series of openings 28 within said collar, th1s finger beingadapted, when the spindle 17 is rotated, to move against a stop pin 29upstanding from the base 2. This stop pin can be placed in any one of aseries of openings in the base so as to enable the length of movement ofthe arm 27 to be varied.

Disk like heads 31 and 32 are secured to and rotate with the spindle 17,the head 32 being located adjacent the cross strip 6 while I the head 31is arranged below the collar 21.

Said head 31 has upstanding rings 33 thereon and which extend around thelower end of tubular receptacles 34 which, if preferred, Cap rings 35are and are connected to the base head 31 by means of tie rods 36. Thesecap rings 35 are located adjacent the head 32. The rings 33 surroundopenings in the head 31 and which are of the same diameter as thereceptacles 34. These openings have been indicated at 37. A disk 38 ismounted for rotation on the spindle 17 close to the bottom of the head31, this head being held against vertical movement bymeans of a collar39 secured to the spindle. Saiddisk has a single opening 40 therein andadapted to register with either of the openings 39 so as to permit thecontents of the receptacles 34 to be discharged. A handle 41 isconnected to the disk 38 and by means thereof said disk can be rotatedsoas to open the bottom of either of the receptacles 34. The upper head 32carries parallel coin receiving slots 42 and 43 located at diametricallyopposed points, theie being an upstanding stop lug 44 adjacent the frontend of each slot. A locking spring 45 is secured to the bottom face ofthe strip 6 and has its terminals normallybearing downwardly on the head32 and back of the two lugs 44, these springs extending across the slots42 and 43, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6. Coin pockets 46 and47 are arranged on the strip 6 and open downwardly through said strip,each of these pockets having an inlet opening in one side as shown inFig. 2. The two pockets are adapted to receive coins of differentdenominations, respectively, and a coin depo-sit'ed in the pocket 46 isadapted to drop into the slot 42 while a coin deposited in the pocket 47is adapted to drop into the slot 43.

The coin holding and releasing mechanism is substantially similar tothat disclosed in my co-pending application bearing Serial No. 527,247and consists of a channeled receiver 48 secured under each of the slots42 and 43 and having a discharge opening 49 in the bottom thereof. Aspring controlled cam 50 is arranged in one end por tion of thechanneled member and cooperates with a supporting screw 51 for thepurpose of holding a coin dropped through the slot and into thechanneled member 48. An arm 52 extends upwardly from the cam 50 andabove the head 32, this arm being located at one side of the adjacentlug 44. Outlet opening 49 is located directly above one of thereceptacles 34 so that a coin discharged therethrough will drop into thereceptacle.

The two heads 31 and 32 are connected by parallel guide rods 53 betweenwhich extend a supporting arm 54 which is secured to and radiates fromthe spindle 17 and works close to the top of the casing. A guide rod 55extends downwardly from the free end portion of the arm and is slidablyengaged by a sleeve 56 having a needle 57 at its lower end. A strippingtube 58 is slidably mounted on the sleeve 56 and has an annular shoulder59 adjacent its upper end adapted to be engaged by a spring pressedlatch 60 carried by an arm 61 which is integral with the upper portionof the sleeve 56 and radiates from a plunger 62 which is slidablymounted within the spindle 17. This arm 61 extends through the slot 20and a spring 63 is interposed between the lower end of the rod 62 andthe bottom. portion of the spindle 17 and serves to hold the plungernormally elevated and the arm 61 normally close to the arm 54. A knob 64is arranged at the upper end of the plunger and by means thereof thesaid plunger, the spindle, and the other parts connected thereto, can berotated subsequent to their release. Moreover by depressing the knob,the plunger, the arm 61, and parts. connected thereto, can be pusheddownwardly when the said arm occupies a predetermined position withrelation to the outlet chute 10. In order that the depression of the arm61 and the plunger 62 may be prevented while said arm. is overhangingthe chute 10, normally registering notches 65 and 66 are formed in thespindle 17 and the plunger 62, these notches constituting a seat for aspring pressed locking dog 67 which is pivotally mounted within the cap19. The dog and notches are so positioned relative to each other that,as long as the needle 57 is located over the trough 10, the dog willremain seated within the notches and thus prevent the depression of theplunger 62.

The specific structure of the guide rod 55, sleeve 66 and stripping tube58, constitute no part of the present invention inasmuch as the same hasbeen disclosed in my patent hereinbefore referred to.

The stripping tube 58 has an angular releasing plate 68 secured theretoor formed integral therewith, this plate bearing against the latch 60and having a tongue 69 extending forwardly. A tripping plate 70 extendsinwardly from the front wall of the casing and projects into the path ofthe tongue 69, this plate being so shaped that, when the arms 54 and 61are brought into position over the chute 10, the tongue 69 will moveagainstthe tripping plate and be shifted thereby so as to throw thelatch 60 out of engagement with the shoulder 59. It is to be understoodof course that a spring is suitably housed within the stripping tube andserves to shift it downwardly when released. Moreover any suitable meansmay be provided for limiting this downward movement of the tube relativeto the needle. Inasmuch as these means do not constitute any part of thepresent invention, however, it does not seem necessary to illustratethem.

In order that the boxes of cigars may be properly held within thecasing, standards 71 are secured to the base 2 at desired intervals,each standard having crossed connecting strips 72 pivotally connected toit, as

shown at 73. The ends of these strips are provided with studs 74slidably mounted in slots 75 formed in angular gripping strips 76, therebeing an adjusting screw 77 swiveled in the standard 71 and threadedthrough a block 78 carried by one of the strips 76. By rotating thescrew, the strips 76 can be moved away from or toward each other so asto receive boxes of different sizes and by moving the strips toward eachother after the boxes have been placed on the connecting strips 72, thesaid strips 76 can be caused to clamp on the boxes and thus hold themfirmly in place. One of these box holders is preferably located close toeach of the walls of the casing, with the exception of the front walland inasmuch as such casing is hexagonal, it will be apparent thatstamps and other marks upon the boxes can be readily inspected withoutthe necessity of opening the casing and removing boxes. All of theholders and the boxes to be supported thereby, slide directly under thepath of movement of the guide rod 55 and the parts mounted thereon.

Under normal conditions, the needle 57 is supported above the chute 10and cannot be moved beyond the ends thereof because the terminalportions of the spring 45 are located in the path of the lugs 44. Norcan the needle be depressed or moved clownwardly into the trough 10because the spring pressed dog 67 lies within the two registeringnotches 65 and 66 and plunger 62 cannot be moved downwardly within thespindle 17. The boxes mounted on the supporting strips 76 contain twogrades of cigars. For example cigars selling at five cents each areplaced in the boxes at one side of the chute '10 while cigars sellingfor ten cents each are placed in the boxes at the other side of thechute. The stop pin 29 is inserted in an opening 30 in the base 2 so asto lie in a line extending radially from the spindle 2 and between thetwo groups of boxes. Obviously access can be conveniently had to theboxes and their contents by unlocking the door 8 but, in order to obtainaccess to the money receptacles 34, it is necessary to remove a separatelock such as has been shown at 79 and which engages the head 31 and thedisk closure 38 so as to hold said closure against rotation and with theopening 40 out of register with the openings 37. Should it be desired topurchase a five cent cigar, a five cent piece is placed in the coinpocket 47 and dropped therethrough onto the spring 45 thereunder, anddirectly over the slot 42. By then partly rotating the knob 64 in onedirection, the slot 42 is removed from under the spring 45 and the coinis permitted to drop into the said slot and then into the channeledmember 48 thereunder. The coin will be supported in this channeledmember by the cam 50 and by the screw 51. The lug i the stripping tube.

44 adjacent the slot 43 will work against spring 45 so as to prevent theneedle from swinging in the direction of the boxes con taining the tencent cigars. When, however, the spindle 17 is rotated in the oppositedirection, the coin deposited in the slot 42, will travel under theadjacent end of spring 45 and elevate it so as to permit the adjacentlug 44 to pass under the spring. Spindle 17 can therefore be rotated tobring the arms 54 and 61 above any one of the boxes containing the fivecent cigars and at the same time the notched portion of the spindle willpass out of engagement with the spring pressed dog 67. As the head 32rotates relative to the spring 45, arm 52 strikes the adjacent end ofspring 45 and is tripped thereby, thus freeing the coin and permittingit to drop into the receptacle 34 ,which is located under the channeledmember 48. With the various parts thus unlocked, the needle 57 can beswung into position above the cigar which it is desired to remove andcan then be depressed by' pushing downwardly on the knob 64. As theneedle 57 is normally housed within the stripping tube 58, it will beapparent that the lower end of said tube will first contact with thecigar after which continued downward movement of the parts will resultin the projection of the needle 57 into the cigar and the movement ofthe latch 60 into engagement with the collar 59 on Said tube willtherefore be held locked and with the needle projecting beyond its lowerend and into the cigar. By removing the pressure on the knob 64, spring63 will elevate it and the arm 61 to their initial positions and saidarm and the arm 54 can be swung back to position above the trough 1Owhereupon the spindle and .plunger will be automatically locked togetheragainst independent movement by the dog 67. As the sleeve 56 arrivesabove the center of the trough, the tongue 69 strikes the tripping plate70 and said tongue causes this plate 68 to partly rotate and to shiftthe latch 60 out of engagement with the shoul der 69. Stripping tube 58will therefore promptly move downwardly and will force the cigar off ofthe needle 57 and into the trough 11 at the bottom of the chute 10. As

the parts assume their positions above the chute, the spring 45 againassumes its'position in the path of the lugs 44 and said parts thereforebecome locked and cannot again be actuated until a coin is inserted intothe machine in the manner hereinbefore de scribed. To remove the cigarit is merely necessary to press the flap 12 inwardly whereupon saidcigar will be accessible by inserting a hand through the opening 9.While the needle 56 is above the chute 10, the roller 24 is rotated inthe recess formed between the ends of the cam 23. When, however, saidneedle is moved beyond the the casing is limited by the arm 27 coming incontact with the pin 30, this pin thus preventing the needle from beingbrought into position to remove a ten cent cigar should only five centsbe deposited in the machine.

By arranging the guide flange 14 upon the extension 13, the cigars, asthey are brought into position above the chute 10, will contact with oneor the other of the rounded ends of the flange and will be straightenedout so as to fall properly into the chute.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A vending machine including a casing for holdingreceptacles, a combined pickingup and conveying device mounted to swingabout an axis extending between the receptacles, and means for lockingthe device against swinging movement.

2. A vending machine including receptacle holding means, a deliveryelement, a combined picking-up and conveying device mounted to swingabout an axis perpendicular to the bottom of the receptacle, and meansfor automatically discharging a conveyed object from said device andinto the delivery element.

3. A vending machine including a receptacle holding casing, a deliveryelement, a combined picking-up and conveying device mounted to swing inthe casing about an axis perpendicular to the bottom of the receptacleand normally located above the delivery device, and means for lockingsaid element in normal position.

4. A vending machine including a receptacle holding casing, a combinedpicking-up and conveying device mounted for sliding movement toward oraway from the receptacle and for swinging movement about an axisperpendicular to the bottom of the receptacle, and-means for normallylocking the device in a predetermined position against swingingmovement.

5. A vending machine including a receptacle holding casing a combinedpickingup and conveying device mounted for sliding movement toward oraway from the receptacle and for swinging movement about an axisperpendicular to the bottom of the receptacle, and means forautomatically locking said device against sliding movement upon reachinga predetermined position during its swinging movement.

6. A vending machine including a receptacle holding casing a deliveryelement, a combined picking-up and conveying device mounted to swing ineither direct-ion from said delivery element about an axis perpendicularto the bottom of the receptacle and to slide toward or away from thereceptacle, means for limiting the movement of said device away from thedelivery element, and means for locking said element against movementaway from said delivery element.

7. A vending machine including a casing, a delivery element, a combinedpicking-up and conveying device mounted to swing about an axisperpendicular to the bottom of the casing, a lock for holding saiddevice against movement beyond the delivery element, and means forreleasing said device.

8. A vending machine including a delivery element, a combined picking-upand conveying device mounted for rotation in a path extending across thedelivery element, means for limiting the rotation of the device ineither direction, means for automatically locking said device againstrotation beyond the delivery element, and means for unlocking saiddevice to permit its movement beyond the delivery element.

9. A vending machine including a combined picking-up and conveyingdevice mounted for rotation, and for up and down movement, means forautomatically locking the device against up and down movement whenrotated to a predetermined position, means for automatically locking thedevice against rotation when brought to said predetermined position, andmeans for releasing said device to permit its rotation.

10. A vending machine including an article engaging element, means formoving said element about a fixed point, means for shifting said elementvertically into and out of engaging position, and means forautomatically locking said engaging element against vertical movementduring a portion of its movement about its center.

11. A- vending machine including a spindle mounted for rotation, ayieldingly held plunger slidable therein and revoluble therewith,combined picking-up and conveying means movable with the plunger, and alatch for automatically engaging the spindle and lunger during a portionof the rotation thereof to hold the plunger against sliding movement.

12. A vending machine including a spindle mounted for rotation, aplunger slidable therein and revoluble therewith, the plunger beingyieldingly supported, combined picking-up and conveying means movablewith the plunger, means for locking the spindle against rotation, andmeans for releasing the spindle from the lock when the spindle isrotated in one direction.

13. A vending machine including a casing having transparent portions,and annular series of receptacle holding devices within the casing,vertically movable means mounted to swing about a fixed axis extendingbetween said devices for removing an article from any one of thereceptacles upon the holders, a lock for holding said means againstmovement, and means for releasing said article engaging means from itslocked position.

14. A vending machine including a casing, a combined picking-up andconveying device movable in an are within the casing and about an axisperpendicular to the bottom of the casing, a series of receptacleholding members within the casing and below the arcuate path of movementof said device and means for depressing said device into any one of thereceptacles thereunder.

15. A vending machine including a casing, said casing having an outletopening, a chute within the casing and back of the opening, said chutehaving a trough at the bottom thereof and below the opening, a closurefor said opening, said closure being movable into the chute to exposethe trough through the opening, a combined picking-up and conveyingdevice mounted for rotation within the casing and across the top of thechute, a stripping device movable therewith, and means for automaticallyactuating the stripping device upon reaching a position above the chuteto discharge the engaged object into the chute.

16. A vending machine including a casing having transparent portions,means therein for holding receptacles with the outer faces thereofexposed to view from the outside of the casing, and means mounted forrotation within the casing and about an axis extending between thereceptacles for picking up and conveying an article from a receptaclemounted on the holding means, and means for delivering said article to apoint within reach of a person outside of the casing.

17. A vending machine including a receptacle holding casing, a combinedpicking-up and conveying device mounted to swing about an axisperpendicular to the bottom of the receptacle in the casing, and meansfor locking the device against swinging movement.

18. In a vending machine, the combination with a casing, and meansmovably mounted therein for engaging and conveying an object, ofreceptacle holding means located below said engaging and conveyingmeans, said holding means including pivotally connected crossed strips,angular gripping strips slidably engaged by said crossed strips, andmeans engaging one of the gripping strips for shifting it toward or awayfrom the centers of the crossed strips.

19. In a vending machine, the combination with a casing, and a combinedpick-up and conveying device movably mounted within the casing, of meanssupported below crossed connecting strips pivotally mounted thereon atpoints between the ends of the strips, receptacle gripping stripsslidably and pivotally connected to the end portions of said connectingstrips, and an adjusting screw swiveled upon the support and engagingone of'said gripping strips, said screw my own, I have hereto aifixed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

LESLIE A. VANDIVER.

Witnesses:

A. O. GONAWAY, HoYT Cox.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Y, Washington, D. G.

